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Domestic tourists flow to Kashmir valley during first six months of this year, January-June, 2005, has shown a growth of about 83%. During the period more than 2.80 lakhs domestic tourists visited Srinagar valley. Foreign tourists arrival also registered 2% increase with the visit of about 8,000 foreign tourists during the period.
The government has taken a number of initiatives for revival of tourism in J & K. more than 16 crore have been released by the Central Government as soft loan/subsidies/grants for houseboat owners, hotels/guesthouse/ shikarawalas and ponywalas. During the current year, tourism infrastructure at 5 villages will be developed at a cost of Rs. 3.50 crore. Two tourism development authorities in Jammu region, 2 in Srinagar valley and one in Ladakh will be provided Rs. 10 crore for tourism promotion. Besides this, capacity building programmes for training of waiters, housemen, chambermaid, and bellboy etc. are being started. At Hotel Management Institute, Srinagar courses on Food & Beverage Service, Food Production, House Keeping and Front office will be started during current year. Ministry of Tourism has also started an intensive brand marketing campaign through electronic and print media for tourism promotion in the region.
The number of domestic and foreign tourists visits to Kashmir Valley during the last three years is as follows:
(Rs. In lakhs)
Year
Domestic
Foreign
Total
2002
0.25
0.03
0.28
2003
1.82
0.09
1.91
2004
3.58
0.19
3.77
NCJ/DT
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